NYC01LA101

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210N · Kent, OH · April 14, 2001

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 14, 2001, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC)
Place
Kent, OH
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6359YCessna T210N
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 28, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
52080

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The flight instructor's inadequate supervision during the landing. Factors were the improper use of the flight controls by the pilot/owner, the crosswind, and the muddy terrain.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - aborted
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Flight controls - improper use ofDual studentFactor
Supervision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)Cause
Terrain condition - muddyFactor
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterTakeoff - aborted

Analysis

The flight instructor was giving dual instruction to the pilot/airplane owner. They were practicing landings. On final approach, with a right crosswind, the pilot/owner flared high, and the airplane bounced. The airplane drifted off the left side of the runway, and an aborted landing was initiated. The instructor then determined that the altitude gained was insufficient to safely continue, so he retarded the throttle to effect a landing next to the runway. During the landing, the airplane rolled into muddy terrain, and the nose landing gear collapsed.

Factual narrative

On April 14, 2001, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cessna T210N, N6359Y, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at Kent State University Airport, Kent, Ohio. The certificated flight instructor and private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the flight instructor, he had been asked by the pilot to fly with him and help him with his landings. The flight originated from Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio, and proceeded to Portage County Airport, Ravenna, Ohio, for practice. After performing a series of landings there, the airplane proceeded to Kent for additional practice.

According to the pilot:

"We were on approach [to runway 19] at normal speed (85 knots). The wind was relatively calm at that point. The flare was high and we bounced, at which point the wind gusted from the west [right]. We drifted toward the east [left] edge of the runway. The instructor made the decision to go around and hit the throttle. We didn't gain sufficient altitude to successfully go around, so the instructor throttled back so we can land on the airport grounds adjacent to the runway. We hit a muddy patchy in the bottom of a swale, at which point the nose wheel snapped off and we slid to a stop in the grass. We shut the engine down and got out of the aircraft under our own power."

According to the flight instructor:

"At approximately 10:45 am doing x-wind landing at KSU [1G3] airport, pilot allowed A/C to stray left of center. Pilot tried to correct and A/C continued to settle left off runway. Attempted full throttle go-around. However, A/C continued to settle off runway. Decision to pull throttle out and forced landing made in grass area off runway. A/C rolled in grass until contacting swale with mud/water. A/C nose gear collapsed and A/C came to a stop."

The flight instructor reported that the aborted landing was initiated with landing flaps and the landing gear extended. The pilot advanced the throttle. Further, when the flight instructor made a determination the airplane was not climbing, he closed the throttle. When asked if he had verified the throttle position during the aborted landing, and prior to closing the throttle, the flight instructor reported that he had not.

Aircraft

Registration
N6359Y
Reported as
Cessna T210N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21064351
Airframe hours
1,812.7
Engine
Continental TSIO-520-R, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Charles W. Grant
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 26, 2001 · 10.6 hours before
Departed
BKL · Cleveland, OH
Destination
1G3 · Kent, OH
Airport
1G3 · Kent State University, runway 19, 4,000 × 60 ft, asphalt

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
46
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
February 22, 2000
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,450 total · 68 in this make and model · 9 in the last 90 days
Role
Student pilot
Age
41
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
June 26, 2000
Seat
Left
Flight hours
105 total · 33 in this make and model · 57 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
57 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
30.04 inHg
Observed at
AKR, 16 nm away